“Mark was very passionate about it being shot there, as it’s the story’s real-life hometown,” reports Lieberman. “And as a producer, he also approached the project with very non-conventional thinking.”

Lieberman cites two instances: “First, Mark really encouraged us to cast boxer Mickey O’Keefe as himself, and we were initially quite hesitant, even though it’s a small role, but it turned out to be a fantastic move. His instincts are great. Second, Mark’s a big boxing fan and knows how it should look, and he was extremely helpful in organizing how we shot all the fight scenes to give them the most authenticity.”

Adds Hoberman: “Given the film’s limited budget, he was also very helpful in conceptualizing (the scenes) to give us the most bang for our buck. He’s got this great mix of talent, passion and business acumen.”